This model uses essentially the same "Unibody" case design -- one milled from a single block of aluminum -- as the previous 17-Inch MacBook Pro model that the "Mid-2009" system replaced, and it has the same backlit keyboard and "no button" glass "multi-touch" trackpad with support for "four finger" gestures and programmable "zones", and essentially the same internal architecture. However, this model is configured with a modestly faster processor, a bigger hard drive, and was introduced for US$300 less.

Also see:

What are the differences between the "Mid-2009" 13-Inch, 15-Inch, and 17-Inch MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo models?

What are the differences between the "Mid-2009" 17-Inch MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo and the "Early 2009" MacBook Pro notebook that it replaced?

*This system has dual graphics processors -- a NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT with 512 MB of dedicated GDDR3 SDRAM and a NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory.

Also see: What type of video processor is provided by the "Unibody" MacBook Pro models? Is it upgradable? Which models have "dedicated" and "integrated" video memory?

Standard VRAM:

512 MB*

Maximum VRAM:

512 MB*

Built-in Display:

17.0" Widescreen

Native Resolution:

1920x1200

Details:

17.0" color widescreen LED-backlit TFT active-matrix display with a 1920 by 1200 native resolution. By default, the display is "glossy", but Apple also offered this model configured with an "anti-glare" (matte) display for US$50 more (MC227LL/A).

In addition to the native resolution, Apple reports that it also supports "1680 by 1050, 1280 by 800, 1152 by 720, 1024 by 640, and 800 by 500 pixels at 16:10 aspect ratio; 1280 by 1024 pixels at 5:4 aspect ratio; 1280 by 1024 pixels at 5:4 aspect ratio stretched; 1600 by 1200, 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio; 1600 by 1200, 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio stretched; 720 by 480 pixels at 3:2 aspect ratio; 720 by 480 pixels at 3:2 aspect ratio stretched."

Site sponsor Mission Repair offers free diagnosis and professional display replacement as well as many other repair services with a 24 hour turnaround for this MacBook Pro.

2nd Display Support:

Dual/Mirroring

2nd Max. Resolution:

2560x1600

Details:

The maximum resolution supported on an external display is 2560x1600.

Standard Hard Drive:

500 GB (5400 RPM)

Int. HD Interface:

Serial ATA (3 Gb/s)

Details:

By custom configuration, this model could be configured with a 500 GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA hard drive for an additional US$50. It also could be configured with a 128 GB SSD or 256 GB SSD for an additional US$200 or US$650, respectively.

Also see: How do you upgrade the hard drive in the "Mid-2009" 13-Inch, 15-Inch, and 17-Inch MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo models? What type of hard drive do these models support? Can one replace the hard drive with an SSD?

*Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model. In this case, please also note that the EMC number is not externally listed on the notebook so it cannot be used readily for identification.